Abortion Clinics Must Stay Open – Young People Need Care

(Washington, DC) — Statement by Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity in support of abortion providers in Texas, Ohio, and Alabama who are filing suit to keep abortion services legal and accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Over the last two weeks, anti-abortion politicians in Alabama, Ohio, Texas, and other states have callously exploited the COVID-19 crisis to further their extremist agendas by instructing health care providers to halt abortion services to comply with temporary suspension orders on all ‘non-essential’ surgeries or procedures.

“Let’s be clear: abortion is essential care. Period. Yesterday, in response to this dire threat to the reproductive health of millions of women, trans, and nonbinary people, abortion providers in Alabama and Ohio joined Texas in suing to ensure that essential health care services like abortion remain accessible throughout the duration of the pandemic. Their actions send a sharp message to politicians who would use this public health crisis to mask their shameless crusade against abortion: You will not get away with this. You will be held accountable to your constituents and to the law.

“URGE applauds brave abortion providers in Alabama, Ohio, Texas and elsewhere for their resolve in the face of this pandemic and we are proud to support them in the fight to keep their doors open. By doing so, they are defending the physical, psychological, and economic wellbeing of countless young people — especially those from marginalized communities who will suffer the most from the impact of COVID-19 and the subsequent threats to their bodily autonomy.

“As assaults against abortion continue to arise, URGE stands in solidarity with providers and their patients. We remain committed to sounding the alarm and mobilizing young people in the battle to keep abortion available for all throughout this crisis and beyond.”

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